DEVOTIONAL COLUMN

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 218, 14 August 1937, Page 13

DEVOTIONAL COLUMN

PRAYER

A PRAYER BEFORE THE LESSON

Our Father, deliver us we pray Thee, from the spir.it of contention. May we live at peace with our neighbours. Help us not to be so concerned about our rights, as we are about doing right in Thy sight. tVe rejoice that while earthly supplies may be limited by circumstance, the water of life is nvt denied to those who will receive it Aom Thine infinite resources. Grant that in all our dealings with others we may show forth a spirit ot consideraVon and that wo may yield wherever Thou wouldst have us yield, not gru fgingly, but gladly. We . ask this in the name of Him AVlio gave Himself for us that we might live, and drink of the water of life freely. Amen.

TREASURE Tn HEAVEN

Of all earth's acres, vast and broad, Far stretching to the sea; Of all'her countless flocks and herds, | Not one belongs to me. No titled mansions passing down A proud, ancestral line; But in the heavenly Shepherd's fold, One little lamb is mine. 11l pastures fresh, and ever green, Beside the waters still. Tended with His loving care, He leadeth where He will. Out on the mountains, bleak and wild, "Where storm and tempest beat, I wander still, but joy supreme! It feedeth at His feet. And when He calleth me by name, I'll hasten and rejoice To shelter, too, within His fold, Because I know His voice.

ISAAC AND HIS AVELLS

In these iconoclastic days in which we live there is something refreshing about the way Isaac trod in his father's footstep!. He was not too advanced a thinker to redig his father's wells, and give them the same names, too. The old-time religion was good enough (or Isaac. . He carried no chip on his shoulder. He moved on to avoid a quarrel, but won his enemies and was rewarded by the Lord appearing to him. HAVE AVE THE OLD MULE'S WISDOM? A man had an old worn-out mule that he wanted to dispose of, also an old cistern that he wanted to fill. So he came to the conclusion that it would l>e a fine idea to put the old mule into the cistern, throw in a lot of loose earth upon him, and thus fill up the cistern. The time arrived to carry out his plan, so the mule was caught and led to the brink of the cistern and pushed into it wlr'le a number of farmers proceeded to throwin the dirt. As Providence seemed to arrange it. the old mule landed on his feet, therefore as the earth showered down upon him. he-would shake himself, and let it drop beneath his feet, and would then tramp it down. As the earth continued to shower upon him, he continued to shake his bodv, and tramp with his feet, until the cistern was filled to the top. Then he stepped out, and quietly walked back to the barnyard. Would to God that all Christians were as courageous and determined in the "fidit of faith" as was this old mule in his "well experi ence." —Anon.

POAVER US WARD

There is no condition, or circumstance. or opnhsition, or experience in your life which cannot be rectified, and brought into conformity with the will of God. and which may not he strengthened by His might. No habit, nor custom, nor besetting 6in can successfully challenge the mastery of the Spirit. AVe may. despair of victory: we nrnv have n past which is a record of failure following nnon failure. A T et it i« gloriouslv possible to learn the secret which will enable us to go forth in the power of God. The realisation of Divine power is the privilege of all the children of God. no matter what present or past , history theirs may have IXUI ' —AV. AY. Martin, M.A.

CHURCH UNION

INTEREST OF CHURCHES OF CHRIST.

The AVorld’s Committee on Faith and Order is at present in session in Edinburgh, the purpose being to ascertain what possibilities there may be in the discussion of the various viewpoints held by the religious denominations in regard to Christian Union. It is of particular interest to the Churches of Christ, as they are known in Britain and the colonies, though in the United States they are know'll under the title of Disciples of Christ. Although only a small Christian body in comparison with others, their challenge to the Churches to return completely to the New Testament Scriptures as their, only rule of faith and practice has brought about such .in interest since their statement was made at the last world’s conference that prior to the conference this year a questionnaire was forwarded containing a statement of the Churches of Christ on Ba.ptism and the Lord’s Supper, and representatives were a6ked to make a careful study of the position. The British delegates are Miss Megan Lloyd George, M.P.; Principal Robinson, of the Overdale College, Birmingham; and Mr C. Green, a prominent businessman of Manchester. Miss Lloyd George is wellknown as a brilliant and independent thinker, the daughter of Hon. David Lloyd George. The former Premier was brought up in the Criccietli Church or Christ and takes part in the service when at home, though in London he generally attends the AVelsli Baptist i Church.